Recovery

The following morning, Ron was released and he met Hermione and Irlynn for breakfast in the kitchens. None of them spoke while they ate. Even the elves seemed to be quieter today.

"How is Harry?" the girls asked.

"Dunno. They wouldn't let me see him," Ron answered.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Well when you checked the King, the Queen took you down. You got knocked out. And Harry went on. He told us to bring you back to the Hospital Wing and to find Dumbledore," Hermione answered.

"We don't know what happened after that," Irlynn added.

"Blimey," Ron mumbled.

"I really hope he is ok. He looked really pale last night," Irlynn murmured.

"I don't want to go to classes today," Ron muttered.

"I don't either," Hermione agreed. Both Ron and Irlynn stared at her in shock.

"But we have final examinations next week," she sighed.

"For a minute I thought you weren't the real Hermione Granger," Ron teased.

"Very funny," she said with a small smile. After they finished their food, they headed in opposite directions for class. None of them could pay much attention and it seemed the professors, even Snape, were going easy on them today. They were on their way to check on Harry when Oliver approached them.

"Have you seen Harry?" Oliver asked.

"He's in the Hospital Wing. We're on our way to see him," Irlynn answered.

"Bloody hell. What happened?" he groaned.

"We don't really know. But I'm sure he'll be well enough to play against Slytherin this weekend," Hermione answered and ushered her friends onwards. Oliver watched them go and grumbled to himself as he continued on his way. They reached the Hospital Wing to find that there were lots of boxes and cards surrounding Harry's bed. Madam Pomfrey caught them before they could get much closer.

"He's still resting. He can't have visitors right now," she told them.

"How much longer until he can?" Irlynn asked.

"Another day or so," she replied.

"I hope he doesn't fail his final exams," Hermione breathed as they walked out of the room. Ron just rolled his eyes and shook his head. Little did any of them but Dumbledore was permitted to see Harry that afternoon.

Harry woke up to see the Headmaster sitting next to his bed. He didn't say anything at first, unsure if what he was seeing what real or not.

"Ah, Harry you're awake," Dumbledore remarked.

"What day is it?" Harry asked, his throat scratchy.

"You've been asleep for awhile," Dumbledore answered. Before Harry could say anything, Madam Pomfrey appeared.

"Please keep it brief, Headmaster. He needs his rest," she said.

"Of course Poppy," Albus assured her. With a nod she disappeared.

"How are you feeling?" Dumbledore asked.

"Tired. I…the stone…did…" he rambled, the thought in his head not coming out properly.

"Voldemort did not get it Harry. You did well," Dumbledore assured him.

"And Professor Quirrel…how…why did that happen?" Harry asked.

"He shared a body with Voldemort. Voldemort cannot stand to touch you and thus neither could Professor Quirrel," Dumbledore began.

"You see, Harry. The night your parents died, your mother gave you a very special protection," he said. Harry's hand flew to his scar.

"No…not that," he said.

"When she died, she sacrificed herself to save you. It was that sacrifice…that love that saved you that night," the headmaster finished.

"Now of course…what happened between you and Professor Quirrel is a secret…so naturally the entire school knows," he added with a chuckle. Harry looked around at all of the gifts and cards.

"Where are Ron and Hermione and Irlynn. Are they alright?" Harry asked.

"Your friends are all fine. Mr. Weasley was released this morning. I believe they tried to see you this afternoon," Dumbledore answered.

"When can I leave? And what about the Quidditch match this weekend?" Harry asked, beginning to panic. He knew Oliver would be mad if he couldn't play.

"That is up to Madam Pomfrey but I suspect you will be fine to play this weekend," Dumbledore assured him. With that, Dumbledore stood up and began to leave.

":Oh…Professor Dumbledore," Harry called.

"Yes, Harry?" he said, looking over his shoulder.

"Does Professor McGonagall still need to talk to Irlynn and I?" he asked.

"When you are well enough to leave," Dumbledore answered. Harry nodded and with that, lay back on his pillow and drifted back to sleep.

He slept all the way through dinner and into the next morning. When he awoke, Madam Pomfrey was standing over his bed. He struggled to sit up and find his glasses.

"How are you feeling this morning?" she asked.

"Better," Harry answered.

"Then I don't see why you can't go back to your dorm today," she told him. He smiled and tossed the covers aside and got out of bed. He headed back to the boys' dorm to change his clothes. He was on his way down when he saw Oliver.

"You good enough to play on Saturday?" he asked.

"Yeah…I can play," Harry answered.

"Good. You nearly scared me half to death," Oliver said. Harry just laughed a little. Wood was definitely obsessed with Quidditch. He wandered around the castle, not feeling like going to classes. Apparently not many other people wanted to be in classes either. He found Hermione, Ron and Irlynn in the Entrance Hall on their way in for lunch.

"Harry!" they called. Harry sprinted down the last few steps and met them.

"Madam Pomfrey released me," he said.

"Brilliant. What happened down there mate?" Ron said, as they walked to a more secluded place.

"Well…it wasn't Snape. It was Quirrel," Harry began.

"And he was after the stone…Dumbledore said I saved it. I don't remember much else. It's all kind of a blur still," he added. It wasn't entirely true. He remembered quite vividly seeing Voldemort.

"We're just glad you're safe," Irlynn said, giving him a firm hug.

"I'm glad you're all safe too," he said, looking at Ron.

"It was nothing, mate," he said.

"Come on, let's eat," Harry said and all four headed in. No one seemed to protest when Irlynn sat down with them.

That evening, they all sat around in the courtyard outside. The weather had gotten nice again they had finished studying early. Professor McGonagall spotted them and walked as quickly as she could towards them.

"I need to speak with you two," she said, pointing to Harry and Irlynn. They both stood and waved goodbye to Hermione and Ron. This time, it felt less ominous following her to her office. When they got there, Dumbledore was already occupying a chair.

"Please sit," she said.

"What's going on, Professor?" Harry asked.

"The talk we were going to have the other night," Minerva answered, sitting next to Albus.

"Don't worry, you're not in trouble," Dumbledore added. Both Irlynn and Harry relaxed a little at that statement.

"We would like to discuss your…project," Minerva said.

"We didn't find what we were looking for," Irlynn said immediately.

"Actually, my dear I believe you did. You just didn't know it," the Headmaster interjected.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Harry stated. Albus and Minerva shared a look before he continued to speak.

"Irlynn, the name your mother used on your birth certificate…was her maiden name," he started to explain.

"Her married name was…Potter," he said. Harry's jaw dropped.

"But…that's…that's my Mum…and she died," Harry rasped.

"So…your Mum….is my Mum?" Irlynn asked, looking at Harry.

"You were both born the thirty-first of July, 1980?" Minerva asked. Both nodded their heads in the affirmative. They looked at each other and back to the professors.

"Does…does this mean….that I…I have family?" Harry managed to get out.

"Yes, Harry. It appears that in fact you have a twin," Dumbledore answered.

"But…why would she give me up and keep Harry?" Irlynn asked, looking very hurt.

"That…we do not know. We believe that it would be best to keep this to yourselves for the time being," Dumbledore and stood to his full height. The two first years stood up and exited the room. Minerva looked over at Albus.

"How could we have missed this?" she breathed.

"Because we didn't know we were looking for two babies, Minerva," Albus said.

"Does this change things? Can…can he live with her?" he asked.

"I'm afraid he is most protected where he resides," Albus said with a shake of his head.

Out in the corridor Harry and Irlynn stood together, saying nothing. They had overheard the conversation and Harry was staring at the stones beneath his feet. Finally she pulled him into a hug.

"Maybe you can come spend a weekend with my parents and I in Ireland," she suggested.

"Yeah…I would like that," Harry agreed.

The weekend passed and Gryffindor had a decisive victory over Slytherin, much to Wood's complaining beforehand. Final exams also passed by uneventfully and soon all the students found themselves heading back to the train for summer holidays. As Harry was about to board the train, Hagrid called to him.

"Harry!" he called. Harry gave his trunk to the conductor and went to join Hagrid.

"Hi, Hagrid," Harry said.

"Here…I wanted you to have this," Hagrid said, handing Harry a photo album. He flipped it open and found a picture of his parents and himself as a baby in the back.

"Thanks, Hagrid," he said and gave the half-giant a hug.

"Go on now. Don't want to miss the train. And don't be afraid to give your cousin hell," Hagrid boomed. Harry laughed and boarded the train. Hagrid waved as the wheels started turning and pulled out of the station.